Ali Abdelaziz, manager of undefeated lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov, has publicly stated he wants Ilia Topuria as his client's first opponent if Nurmagomedov signs with the UFC. Abdelaziz cited existing bad blood between the two fighters as the motivation for the matchup, telling the Pound 4 Pound Podcast: "I want Ilia Topuria in his first fight." Nurmagomedov, 22-0, is currently the sport's most coveted free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first round of his final PFL bout last weekend.
Ali Abdelaziz has set his sights on Ilia Topuria as the first UFC opponent for his client Usman Nurmagomedov, publicly calling out the lightweight contender on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast. The manager cited personal animosity between the two fighters as the driving force behind the proposed matchup, though no agreement with the UFC has been reached.
Nurmagomedov arrives as perhaps the most sought-after free agent in MMA today. The 27-year-old Russian completed his PFL run with a first-round knockout of Archie Colgan last weekend, pushing his unblemished record to 22-0. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach, Nurmagomedov has built his undefeated ledger primarily through grappling and control, posting a striking accuracy of over 52 percent across his career. He currently sits 14th in the pound-for-pound rankings despite never having competed inside the Octagon.
Topuria, meanwhile, is no stranger to the spotlight. The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter holds a record of 17-1 and is ranked first both in the lightweight division and on the pound-for-pound list. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, "El Matador" brings relentless pressure and finishing ability, averaging 4.81 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also threatens consistently on the ground, averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes alongside more than one submission attempt in the same span.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov's UFC signing remains unconfirmed, making this a proposed matchup rather than a scheduled bout
- A win over the division's top-ranked fighter and pound-for-pound number one would immediately legitimize Nurmagomedov's UFC arrival
- The reported bad blood between the two fighters adds a personal dimension that could accelerate negotiations if a deal is eventually struck
- Topuria's elite finishing ability contrasts sharply with Nurmagomedov's grappling-heavy approach, setting up an intriguing stylistic clash
